Texans glad to have the old referees back

The day after the NFL ended its lockout of the referees, agreeing to an eight-year collective bargaining agreement in time for Thursday night’s game, Texans players expressed measured pleasure at the news.

“I’m glad. I’m happy for them. Their families get their pensions,” Texans defensive end Antonio Smith said. “Hopefully, some calls can just go in the right direction now. I’m trying to say it the right way so I don’t get fined.”

The NFL’s referee lockout lasted through three regular-season games.

“I’m glad they got it done,” Texans coach

Gary Kubiak said. “I had confidence that they would, so it’s good to have those guys back. They know our game, they know our teams, they know our coaches, and they know our players. I have a lot of respect for those guys that worked their tails off these past three weeks.”

The breaking point
The final straw to end the lockout might have been the end of Monday night’s game between the Seahawks and Packers in Seattle. The game’s final play was a Hail Mary pass from Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson to receiver Golden Tate on which it appeared Tate pushed off of defensive back Sam Shields. Tate then got tangled with M.D. Jennings trying to catch the ball.

It appeared Jennings landed on the ground with the ball in possession. Then Tate grabbed it from Jennings once the pair was on the ground.

Two officials were standing just feet away from the play. One raised his arms to signal a touchdown, while the other signaled no catch. It sparked a league-wide outrage, and the next day, the NFL released a statement saying the game should have ended on an offensive interference call on Tate, rather than the touchdown.

“Just being a player, you know the work the guys put in to go out and prepare for a game,” Texans receiver Andre Johnson said. “To lose a game on a call, that’s just not a good feeling. I couldn’t imagine how those guys felt after that game. It’s over with now; we have the regular guys back out there, so everybody’s happy.”

The use of replacement officials didn’t have as severe an impact on any of the Texans’ games, although there were questionable interference calls and non-calls. Against the Broncos, the Texans were penalized only 4 yards instead of 5 on a false-start penalty called on left tackle Duane Brown.

Return to consistency
“I think they were more lenient in a lot of situations as far as us up front,” Brown said. “But then on the back end when it came to receivers, it was kind of shaky. In the trenches, I think they were far more lenient.”

“Calls will be more consistent, more accurate,” Texans linebacker Brian Cushing said. “Obviously, the new refs aren’t perfect either. I think a lot of people forget that. For the most part, I think everybody’s pleased that they’re back. … I think we’ll find a new problem to complain about. That’s just how everybody is. I think the officiating will be better, so people will focus on something else.”

Added Johnson: “Pretty sure they’ll get a standing ovation from the crowd. It’s great to have them back.”